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MUMBAI: Mercedes-Benz India on Tuesday launched its premium SUV, G 63 AMG in Mumbai, the first amongst four new launches the company is planning this year.

The all terrain SUV is prices at Rs 1.46 crore, ex showroom Mumbai and comes with a 5.5 litre supercharged AMG engine. The vehicle will zoom from 0-100 in less than 5.5 seconds.

The G Class is the longest serving vehicle in series production for the company and is currently in its 34th year.

Mercedes-Benz India, which has been facing stiff competition in India from rival German companies including Audi and BMW, sold 7138 units of cars to its dealers in the last year.

The company has now decided to go on the offensive in the domestic market to increase its market share in the luxury car market and is looking to improve its sales in the luxury segment in the country.

""This year, we have decided to be on the offensive, what we call the Mercedes-Benz offensive. We will be strengthening our dealer network and launching new models. In addition, we will also be concentrating on the cost of ownership"" Eberhard Kern, MD & CEO of Mercedes-Benz India said.

Mercedes, which has been focussing on its network in India has invested more than Rs 550 crores through the dealers, according to a statement from the company. In addition, the company will also add six more outlets across the country.

Mercedes will now look to launch four new models in India which include the diesel version of its premium hatchback, B Class.

The company has also expressed hope about an ease in the taxation on luxury vehicles this year and maintained that it is not looking to offer discounts to its customers to increase sales.

MBIL pioneered the luxury car industry in India by starting its India operations in 1994. In 2009, the company moved into its production facility spread over 100 acres in Chakan. The initial investment of Rs 250 crores was scaled upto to Rs 600+ crores with the setting up Mercedes-Benz India's own technologically advanced paint shop capable of water based painting.

Mercedes-Benz India locally manufactures its flagship sedans the C-Class, the E-Class and the S-Class sedan in its plant in Chakan near Pune.

With Daimler AG recognizing the emergence of high potential growth markets including India, Mercedes-Benz India will be amongst the first markets to start assembling the new M-Class, outside Daimler AG's parent SUV plant in Tuscaloosa/Alabama.